FL sugar farmers helping to clean up the everglades

Before a joint meeting of the Florida House of Representatives’ State Affairs Committee and Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee, Florida’s sugar farmers on Friday presented the successful results of their collaboration with state and federal agencies to restore the Everglades ecosystem. House testimony shows significant progress in water quality as a result of farmers’ commitment to Everglades restoration

The following statement was released by the sugar farmers:

“Florida’s sugar farmers are part of a solution that is working,” said Brian Hughes a spokesman for the Florida’s sugar farmers. “As was demonstrated in the expert testimony of Phil Parsons, sugar farmers are proud of the success and committed to working with the Legislature to get the job done.”

Parsons’ testimony shows successful public works projects, jointly paid for by farmers and the South Florida Water Management District, have removed significant amounts of phosphorus from the ecosystem. On‐farm Best Management Practices (BMPs) – paid for 100% by farmers – have removed more than twice as much phosphorus as the public works projects–resulting in clean water for the Everglades.

Parsons practices in the areas of environmental, land use and administrative law. He has coordinated complex environmental permitting and local and state land use regulatory proceedings, has appeared in multi-party administrative litigation and represented clients before the Legislature and U.S. Congress. In these roles he has had substantial involvement in Everglades Restoration and South Florida Water Management issues.